title: The personal experience of dysmenorrhoea: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.
abstract: This study explored six women's experiences of primary dysmenorrhoea using semi-structured interviews analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Rather than focusing on pain, participants broadened the study focus to coping with the menstrual process as a whole. This was seen to be mediated by menstrual taboos and by the theme of 'order', arising from a strong feeling of a menstrual timetable and the need for rational explanation. Another theme was pain as a separate entity, which was connected to the theme of order. Placing dysmenorrhoea in its context may be useful for health-care professionals treating women with the condition.
authors.affiliation: University College London Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burbeck
authors.affiliation: City University London, UK.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Willig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adults; health psychology; interpretative phenomenological analysis; qualitative methods; women’s health